What else would stop immersion heater working?

woj101

Earlier this year we had a plumber come to service our electric hot water cylinder (our house is all electric and on Economy 7) because the Economy 7 element wasn't working. Then in trying to remove the element the plumber ripped a hole in the tank, meaning we ended up getting a new cylinder with (presumably) new elements and thermostats.

A week or so ago our Economy 7 hot water stopped working. I took the thermostat out and tested it on the Booster element - it didn't seem to work so I ordered a replacement.

The replacement's arrived but and fitted last night. However, overnight the Economy 7 water hasn't heated. I've tested the replacement thermostat in the Booster and it's fine.

So what else is possibly wrong?

I know electricity is getting to the socket cos I've plugged a lamp in, and surely the element is not old enough to have scaled up to the point where it no longer works.

Any help greatly appreciated - these cylinders are pretty new to me, they look pretty simple, but obviously I'm missing something.

Thanks

Incidentally 1: Should the plumber have footed the bill after ripping a hole in our previous tank

Incidentally 2: The first replacement thermostat I bought was too thick to fit inside the heating element. I thought other than length all thermostats would be a standard size. Are they not?

southcoastrgi

all new stats will have a manual reset button on them that you have to push in, what time of day did you plug your lamp in ? i'm guessing that the two immersions are wired via 3 pin plugs then ? not really the right thing if they are in use all the time, but have you checked the fuse in the plug ? or the fuse on the fuseboard that runs the eco 7 side ?

woj101

First thing I did was change the fuse in the plug and check the fuse box, before plugging the lamp in to make sure the circuit was working. Lamp was on in the afternoon, which did surprise me I plugged the lamp in one afternoon, not expecting it to work but in fact it did (I guess Economy 7 has an afternoon top-up, because I tried it again later in the evening and it didn't work, as expected).

The immersion is wired via a plug so we can easily disable it if we don't want the whole tank heated - just running the Booster during Economy 7 hours for hot water in the morning is cheaper. The booster is wired via a timing unit so that we can set it to come on overnight.

Never really known when the reset button needs pressing, but as I say, I tested the new stat in the Booster element so I know it's operating ok.

Peater

As has been suggested. Look for a reset or trip switch/knob that can be depressed. Usually situated behind a cover on the front panel amongst some wires.

I know on mine (admittedly older) that trips regularly.

woj101

No - after it didn't heat up last night I took the new stat out again and re-tested it on the booster without pressing the switch and it worked.

southcoastrgi

i think you have just answered the question however you will need your electric supplier to check it out, off peak electric (econ 7) works from 11pm or 12am to 6am it's doesn't have a "boost" in the middle of the day so i think there is a prob with the time/setting on your off peak meter

woj101

Thanks for clarifying that, but if that was the case and everything was working then the immersion would heat up during the day, wouldn't it?

southcoastrgi

yes it would unless it is faulty/the old one & not new/thermostat really was knackered or your boost (top immersion) (btw the bottom immersion should be econ 7 & the top one is day time boost) has already heated the tank up